The Kenya Aid board is composed of 6 young and inspired individuals who come from varied personal and professional backgrounds. They are committed to addressing the core reasons of inequality and will continue to strive to deliver the best possible services to those who are in most need.

These backgrounds include medicine, law, economics, development and business, which provides them with a unique perspective in addressing development in all its facets.

The one theme that ties these diverse individual's together is the passion and dedication that they have for human rights and for the realisation that action must be taken to ensure a high standard of living, equality and a 'fair go' for all.


Ryan Snaith
President

Ryan is a graduate from the University of Sydney's Medical Program and is currently training in Critical Care Medicine at Nepean hospital, situated in Western Sydney.

He has travelled to Kenya many times, first to help establish and work at the Shikunga Clinic and since then has returned regularly to further develop the communities access to health services. From this travel has developed a passionate interest in the improvement of health-care in Kenya and in the Kenyan people.

Ryan has also completed a medical term at Kijabe Mission Hospital, located in the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi.

After the completion of his medical training, Ryan is planning to return to Kenya to continue working and providing health related services to the people of Kenya.


James Tong
Vice President

James completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Sydney. He then went on to study medicine, completing his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the end of 2006. Now he is working as an intern at Wollongong Public Hospital.

James traveled to Kenya in 2005 to do some medical work at Kijabe Mission Hospital, near Nairobi. There he saw first hand the state of healthcare of the general Kenyan public. After this, he spent some weeks living in Shikunga village, in the Western Province of Kenya, where he was inspired by the hope and generosity of a people who have very little.

This experience, and his faith in God, compelled him into action towards social justice for the Kenyan people. James believes that Kenya Aid's community focus on healthcare can make a large positive impact on many lives.


Aaron Batten
Treasurer

Aaron holds a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the Australian National University specializing in Development Economics. Upon completion of his Bachelor degrees, Aaron worked in the Australian Commonwealth Treasury, where he was involved in economic and public sector reform issues in the delivery of Australian Government aid to Pacific Island countries. At present, he is on an AusAID funded Economics PhD scholarship examining ways to improve the effectiveness of Australia's foreign aid in the Pacific.

Aaron is excited to be working with such a motivated group of young doctors and professionals to help those less fortunate than themselves. He hopes to bring some development effectiveness expertise to the strategies of Kenya Aid to maximise the impact of the organisations resources. Above all Aaron is concerned with ensuring that the work of Kenya Aid delivers sustainable benefits to the people of Shikunga and that its efforts work in tandem with those of the local authorities and other development organisations in the region.


Michael Pritchett
Public Officer

Michael benefits from a background in sales and marketing, and has spent the last seven years working with media companies, both here in Australia and throughout Asia. He has also directed his own marketing business, and is now using his entrepreneurial skills to develop a company dealing with international trade.

Working with the less fortunate, is a large part of Michael's life. His involvement ranges from personal care work with the Spastic Centre, to volunteering with Wesley Missions' Street Beat. Michael is very involved with his Church, and feels that God can do amazing things through those who step out in faith.

Confident of the future of Kenya Aid, Michael believes that his experience in business and marketing will aid the organisation to raise the much needed funds to undertake projects in Kenya.


Verity Twydale
Secretary

Verity has completed a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and Philosophy) at Macquarie University and is currently studying for a Masters in Writing. With five years experience in marketing and web project management she plans to use her skills in the not-for -profit sector.

Having first travelled to Kenya in 2006 where she worked alongside MURUDEF to build a non-formal secondary school Verity has since been assisting Kenya Aid to develop sustainable community based programs and innovative fundraising strategies. Returning to Kenya annually Verity has developed and actively manages The SHARE Project which engages women in both developing and developed countries to create positive changes in their lives.

Verity is driven by her passion for social justice and through working with humanist principles she is committed to creating and supporting positive, healthy and sustainable communities throughout the developing world.


Noel Friesen
Project Advisor

Noel is originally from Canada and completed a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree before relocating to Australia.

He was later awarded a Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medicine degree from the University of Sydney in 2006. In that same year Noel joined Ryan and James in Kenya to help run the Shikunga clinic and operate traveling rural clinics.

In addition to working in Kenya Noel has been involved with charitable organizations doing work in Papua New Guinea and Guatemala. Through the Kenya Aid organization he aims to deliver accessible health care to the wonderful people of western Kenya.